My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and staring eagerly

cake is

her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into the cake for

of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake,

that, the head of the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a Happy

sing the

Rachel must close her eyes and

blow out

to indicate to Julian that there was no need to go

‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

have to say it in your heart and not out

her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with pretty,

made a wish. After that, she blew out

thank you!” their parents instructed, standing

paper plates, the children raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and the whole

Rachel finally smiled for the first time in days.

continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry

worry about me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s expression was

regretting bringing up the child, he changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately,

she turned and headed

her apartment and about

propped open by a large hand

her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the

out on business?

into the house and shut the

“I see you’ve been

she took two steps back. Why are you

her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the couch.

you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful

he approached her, forcing her back

Rachel had no idea what

he caught hold of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him and was dragged all the